Languages Faculty News
Global Connections - France Tour
Liam Fernandes, Henry Duncan and Max Dillon-Shallard, Year 10 French
ARRIVING IN TOULOUSE
After a 23-hour plane journey, we were finally in Toulouse, France. We could not wait for the adventure to begin!
Upon arrival, we promptly shuttled to Saint Joseph La Salle, our partner school. Despite the exhaustion, a blend of nerves and excitement filled everyone as they anticipated meeting their French host families.
That evening, we were warmly welcomed into our host families' homes to spend our first night with them. Over the new few days, we enjoyed a variety of new experiences. These included going on a bakery excursion to make our own baguettes and see the inner workings of a French Boulangerie, attend school with our host students, and take part in various Easter activities with our host families.
Throughout the next week, we fully immersed ourselves in the French school experience, attending classes alongside our peers. One of our memorable outings included a visit to Carcassonne, a captivating medieval walled city. On another occasion, we engaged in a lively French tradition known as 'carnival', where each mentor group dressed up according to a specific theme and paraded around the school grounds.
Finally, it was the long-awaited holidays! Over the next week, we had the chance to visit Avignon, Provence, Montpellier and Nimes, visiting landmarks in each city/region. We all enjoyed our time travelling to these different places and had many enriching experiences. At the end of the week, it was time to meet everyone to visit Paris.
FINISHING OUR JOURNEY IN PARIS
Upon our arrival in Paris, there was little time for rest at the hotel. Instead, we immediately set out for the iconic Champs Elysées, where we commenced our walk towards the majestic Arc de Triomphe. Later that night, we took a river cruise on the Seine, where we viewed many famous French monuments while enjoying a delicious dinner.
The next day was also jam-packed and full of activity. First, we visited the Louvre and took a two-hour guided tour through the museum. It was great seeing many famous paintings in person, including the Mona Lisa. We also saw the Notre Dame Cathedral and visited the iconic Eiffel Tower. We were fortunate enough to make our way to the top where we got a breathtaking view of Paris! Finally, we rounded the day off with a three-course traditional French meal.
Our third day in Paris started off with more sightseeing of the typical tourist hotspots, including l’Assemblée Nationale and les Invalides, and le Musée de l’Armée. In the afternoon, we were fortunate enough to visit Parc des Princes, the home stadium for Paris Saint-Germain, where we were able to explore the stadium.
Then in the evening, we enjoyed our last meal in Paris near Sacre Coeur, afterwards exploring a part of Paris by night. Our last morning in Paris consisted of visiting the perfumeries, which was a great way to see a different side of French culture and to learn ‘le savoir faire’ of perfume.
Before we knew it, our time in Paris had come to an end. A visit to this lovely city was the perfect way to finalise our amazing 25-day tour to France. Overall, one of our main highlights was having the freedom to explore Paris, much like the Year 9 Impact Program, where we are given the opportunity to be independent. This was an amazing way to experience how someone in a different country lives, and to learn about the cultural differences between France and Australia.
We also enjoyed spending time with our host families, and learning new French words and improving our listening skills. A huge thank you to Madame Lucie Dickens, Kim Mullins and Dasha Lepustin for organising and attending this tour with us. We had an incredible and unforgettable experience in France!
Parents’ reflections about their child attending the Tour to France:
'My child learnt so much of the French language and French culture on this trip. She learnt to become more independent with 25 days away from home. By living with a host family, she learnt about respect and how to offer help. She learnt to solve real-life problems. She also realised that being organised and listening to instructions are important in the group journey.'
'I’m sure our son has developed greater independence, confidence, enthusiasm to try new things, and a broader perspective on the world. We are so thankful for this amazing experience. He stayed with an extremely kind and generous family who offered him wonderful experiences. We knew that with both his host family and Kilvington staff, he was in good hands. Thank you so much for all the hard work in planning and preparing the trip, and for looking after our son.'
'This experience enriched our son’s French learning experience, and in doing so, increased his engagement with the subject. The connection to language, culture, experience and lifestyle was highlighted by the trip. The trip also allowed the students to grow a little more as young men and women.'
'We couldn’t have asked for a better experience for our child. She was incredibly well-matched with her host family, so much so that a lasting friendship has been formed. We are looking forward to hosting in October.'
Visit from Hiroshima Jogakuin Senior School
If you are interested in hosting students in Term 3, please contact Ruth Valle from AIIU to submit your expression of interest to ruth_valle@hotmail.com. If you have any questions, please contact Lucie Dickens at dickensl@kilvington.vic.edu.au.